Best High Schools 2010: 4 of our high schools on Eastside are at top 60′s in US

15Jun10
Best High Schools 2010: 4 of our high schools on Eastside are at top 60′s in US.
#13- Interlake, Bellevue;
#20-International, Bellevue;
#45-Newport, Bellevue;
#56-Sammamish, Bellevue.

http://www.newsweek.com/feature/2010/americas-best-high-schools/list.html


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Realty Times – First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended For Armed Service Members

06May10

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended For Armed Service Members.  If you are veterans and can’t meet the deadline of June 30, 2010, you will be fine.   All qualified service members, you have an extra year to cash in on the credit. Your new deadline is April 30, 2011.  (Qualified service members are a member of the uniformed services of the U.S military, a member of the Foreign Service of the U.S., or an employee of the intelligence community.)


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Freddie Mac considers short sale flipping as fraud.

19Apr10

http://www.freddiemac.com/singlefamily/news/2010/0412_payoff_fraud.html

If you don’t know if you are involved in a possible fraud transaction or have questions, please call Freddie Mac Fraud Hotline: 800 4 FRAUD 8


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National Flood Insurance Program Is Suspended.

11Apr10

New flood insurance policies have been suspended across the whole US.  Congress has recessed without extending authority for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which expired on March 28, 2010.

“Six of the nation’s largest lending authorities have issued guidance to administer the federal flood insurance regulations during the current National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) lapse in authority. In most cases, loan closings may still occur during the NFIP lapse with verification of the submission of a NFIP flood policy application and premium payment submission to the insurance provider. Lenders should follow all normal flood risk evaluations prior to closing and establish follow up practices to monitor full compliance upon the re-authorization of the NFIP program. Lenders should become familiar with and follow the specific guidance offered by their lending authority.”

If you are planning to buy a property in a flood zone in the next couple weeks, please discuss this with your real estate agent, lender, insurance agent and your title company.

For further info, Federal Emergency Management Agency: http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/


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Hotline for Senior in California Who May Face Foreclosure or Mortgage Abuse

30Mar10

New effort from California government, FREE legal hotline set up for people who are 60+ and who may be in risk of foreclosure. (800)222-1753.


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12Mar10

Foreclosures drop for 2nd month in February: RealtyTrac
http://ping.fm/wJD4h


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First Responders, do you have a Will or Trust?

08Mar10

If you don’t and would like to have free information and assistance, Washington Bar Association offers “Will Clinic” to the WA First Responders, for single who has assets not exceeding $750,000 ($1.5 million, if married).

http://ping.fm/gKPdp


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25Feb10

Home prices across the US rose for the 7th straight month in Dec. In the Sound, the seasonally adjusted index was up 0.2% from Nov and 0.8% from its bottom in Sep.


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Loan Modification Report Jan 2010

23Feb10

According to the HAMP (Making Home Affordable Program) report Jan 2010, successful permanent loan modification has increased almost 50% from the previous month.  Here are the highlights:

-The majority of permanent modifications –57.4% –are helping people who are coping with unemployment or who have seen a reduction in hours or wages.

-110servicers have signed servicer participation agreements to modify loans under HAMP, and new servicers continue to join the program each week. In addition, approximately 2,300 lenders service loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac; these GSE loans are automatically eligible for HAMP.

-Loss of income is the primary hardship of the borrowers for permanent modification.

-In Washington State, there was a total of 18.835 cases.  Among that,  16,255 trial cases; permanent modifications 2,580; 5.01%-10% of 60+days delinquency rate.

-Top 3 servicers  (trial + permanent modifications) nation-wide are:

  1. i) Bank of America (total: 234,156);
  2. ii) JP Morgan Chase (total: 162,483);
  3. iii)Wells Fargo (total:137,128).

Source: Making Home Affordable Program, Jan 2010.


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Taxpayer, you should have this….

14Feb10

No matter you hire a CPA, using Turbo Tax or H&R Block or any computer softwares to file tax, this free booklet should benefit you – Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax.

This year it includes:

  • recent tax-law changes such as First-time Home-buyer Credit, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and Making Work Pay Credit,..,etc.
  • Info on calculating capital gain/loss, claiming dependents, standard deductions Vs itemizing deductions, IRAs or retirement saving plans;
  • Available in Spanish:
  • Free hard copy; free download at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf

If you need tax help, what know how to eFile or get tax advocate’s advice, visit www.irs.gov or call 800-829-3676.  There are electronic links for Q&A online.

Good luck!


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